October is recognized worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I wanted to share this story from Swarupa, one of our supervisors in India:
A few months ago, I visited one of the workers that I oversee, Dorca, and together we held a health awareness class about cancer in her village. We discussed cancer symptoms and causes, and we also showed them how to perform self-breast exams. The women were very interested and eager to learn.
After the class, a 29-year-old mother named Tirupathamma wanted to talk with us. She told us she had been experiencing heavier-than-usual periods for a few months and had recently discovered some lumps. She was very frightened. I spoke with her and strongly encouraged her to see a doctor right away. She went to the hospital, and a biopsy revealed she had Stage 2 Uterine Cancer.
Over the past few months, she has undergone 28 chemotherapy sessions and 30 rounds of radiation. Dorca and I visited her, offering prayers and support. I am happy to share that she is now in remission and doing well. God saved her life, and we continue to pray for her and her family.
This story reminds me of how a little bit of knowledge can have a profound impact. The women we train and employ are not medical professionals, but they have a deep care for their communities. With the basic knowledge we provide—knowledge many of us may take for granted—they are truly making a difference.
Your support is what makes stories like Tirupathamma's possible. You may not realize it, but you are doing so much for so many. Thank you, and God bless.
